Assignment
Topic 1: Learning from Change
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."
Victor Frankl, M.D.
Change is inevitable in the life of a leader; especially one who takes risks, innovates, and pushes beyond boundaries. Effective leaders also find the learning opportunity in every change. Reflect on prior changes that helped you to make critical future corrections in your process or approach.
Question 1: Think about a change from early in your leadership experience. What happened and how did you handle it? What did you learn?
Question 2: If you had the opportunity to change one leadership decision that you have made in your career, what would it be? What did you learn from the impact of that decision on others, on the task/problem, or the organization?
Question 3: Look back and compare your organization today with that of several years ago. What did the organization have to learn in order to change? What have those changes meant for how you operate as a leader in that organization?
Topic 2: Defining Change
"Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there."
Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D.
The hallmark of a seasoned leader is to define change as an inevitable condition of the work environment and to use the change to mobilize, create, and motivate. Consider areas in your current role where you need to articulate a needed change. Explore behaviors that you should continue to refine or develop to help others manage transitions.
Question 1: Think about an area that you are responsible for that could benefit from a significant change. What do you want the end result to look like? How are you going to manage the transition?
Question 2: Consider a time when you were the first to identify and define a change that, if implemented, would significantly contribute to success. What did you do? Why was the change critical? How did you help others understand its urgency?
Question 3: What could you do in your work setting to reframe the concept of change? Consider leaders who have used change as a galvanizing and motivating force in their work. What did they say or do that made the prospect of change seem more exciting and less daunting? What can you take from those lessons and apply in your leadership role?
Synthesizing and Applying Theme 12
Question 1:
Consider your entries for this theme. What insights did you gain? Is there anything you will seek to do more of, differently, or less of because of your reflection on the topics in this theme?
Theme 13
Topic 1: Exploring Opportunities
"We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."
Lee Iacocca
Great leaders and great companies miss revolutionary opportunities. Kodak is a frequently cited example for having passed on electrophotography (xerography) that birthed Xerox and later, the digital camera movement that led to its bankruptcy. Examine those behaviors that you do, or should be doing, to explore those untapped opportunities all around you.
Question 1: Think about the last great idea that you remember having. What prompted your breakthrough in thinking? How can you channel it again?
Question 2: What are some of the disruptive technologies facing your organization? What are you doing in response?
Question 3: Evaluate the current practices you engage in (or identify some practices you should begin) to identify and track opportunities for your organization.
Topic 2: Setting Strategic Priorities
"The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do."
Michael E. Porter, Ph.D.
Strategy is often revealed through risk taking, controversy, and an almost hostile rejection of the status quo. Good leaders can leverage these forces for greater strategic advantage. Explore how to foster environments that facilitate strategic focus and intent.
Question 1: What are your strategic priorities? How do you know they are the right ones?
Question 2: What types of strategic boundaries have you set for your organization or your team? How do you balance these boundaries without compromising agility and innovation?
Question 3: Examine your process for keeping your strategy robust and relevant. What indicators do you monitor for knowing when to stop, start or change an approach?
Synthesizing and Applying Theme 13
Question 1:
Consider your entries for this theme. What insights did you gain? Is there anything you will seek to do more of, differently, or less of because of your reflection on the topics in this theme?
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.